NationMaster - Encyclopedia: François Achille Bazaine

This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. Painting of François Achille Bazaine by Jean-Adolphe Beauce File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file...

Painting of François Achille Bazaine by Jean-Adolphe Beauce on campaign in The United Mexican States or Mexico ( Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México; regarding the use of the variant spelling Méjico, see section The name below) is a country located in North America, bordered to the north by the United States of America, to the southeast by... Mexico

François Achille Bazaine ( February 13 is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 321 days remaining, 322 in leap years. Events 1130 - Innocent II is voted Pope. 1542 - Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, is executed for adultery. 1633 - Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome... February 13, 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). Events February 5 - George, Prince of Wales becomes Regent because of the perceived insanity of his father, King George III of the United Kingdom.He is known as the Prince Regent. This is the beginning of the period... 1811 - September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). There are 99 days remaining. Also an important date in pagan history celebrating fall. Events 490 BC - Battle of Marathon; origin of marathon long-distance race (run by Phidippides) 1122 - Concordat of Worms 1459 - The Battle of... September 23, 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). In Germany, 1888 is known as the 1888 Year of Three Emperors. Events January 3 - 91cm telescope first used at Lick Observatory January 12 ? Blizzards in Dakota and Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Texas - 235 dead, many... 1888), The title of marshal of France (maréchal de France) was derived from the office of marescallus Franciae created by Philippe Auguste for Albéric Clément (circa 1190). It later became a distinction and takes precedence above the constable, which was originally an office above the marshal. Up to... marshal of France, was born at Versailles, formerly the capital city of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important administrative and judicial center. The city ( commune) of Versailles, located in the western suburbs of Paris, is the préfecture (capital) of the Yvelines département... Versailles.

He entered the army as a private soldier in 1831, with a view to service in The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, or Algeria, is a nation in north Africa, and the second largest country on the African continent. It is bordered by Tunisia in the northeast, Libya in the east, Niger in the southeast, Mali and Mauritania in the southwest, and Morocco as... Algeria, and received a commission as sub-lieutenant in 1833. By his gallantry in action he won the cross of the French Legion of Honor The Légion dhonneur (in Legion of Honor (AmE) or Legion of Honour (ComE)) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. First instituted by Emperor Napoleon I on May 19, 1802, it is one of the most prestigious French awards and... Legion of Honour, and he was promoted lieutenant in 1835. He served two campaigns with the A foreign legion is a military force originally established by a monarch, consisting of foreigners who are not normally subjects of the king. As their members are on duty all the time, theyre not of the same structure as a regiment. Many countries, including Britain (sc., Kings German... Foreign Legion against the Carlism was a conservative political movement in Spain, purporting to establish an alternative branch of the Bourbons in the Spanish throne. The Origins The dynastic issue 13th May 1713, Felipe V of Spain, first of the Spanish Bourbons, through an Auto Acordado changes the traditional order of succession to the... Carlists in Spain in 1837-38, returning to Africa as captain in 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). Events January 9 - The French Academy of Sciences announces the Daguerreotype photography process. January 19 - British East India Company captures Aden January 20 - In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats a Peruvian and Bolivian alliance. February 24 - William... 1839. During the succeeding decade he saw continual active service in Africa, and rose to be a brigadier-general with the charge of the district of Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the seat of government for the wilaya of the same name. Its population is an estimated 130,000. The name comes from the Berber word tilmisane, for springs. Located inland, it is located in the center of a region known for its... Tlemcen. In the The Crimean War lasted from 28 March 1854 to 1856. It was fought between Russia and an alliance of the United Kingdom, France, and the Ottoman Empire, joined somewhat tardily by Piedmont-Sardinia. The majority of the conflict took place on the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. Beginning of... Crimean War he commanded a brigade, and maintained his reputation in the trenches before Sevastopol (Севастополь, Sevastopol’ in Ukrainian; Aqyar in Crimean Tatar), formerly known as Sebastopol, is a port city in Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of Crimean peninsula. It has a population of 328,600 (2004). Home of the... Sevastopol. On the capture of the south side he was appointed governor of the place, and was promoted general of division. He also commanded the French forces in the expedition to Kinburn. In Lombardy (It. Lombardia) is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po Valley. Lombardy borders the regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and the country of Switzerland. Lombardys capital is Milan. One fifth of Italys population lives in Lombardy, and its capital... Lombardy in 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. Events January January 2 - Erastus Beadle publishes The Dime Book of Practical Etiquette. January 24 - Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexander John Cuza under the name Romania (see December 1, 1918 for the final unification, Transylvania and other regions were still... 1859 he was wounded when in command of a division at Melegnano, and took a conspicuous part in the The Battle of Solférino was fought on June 21, 1859 and resulted in the victory of the allied French Army under Napoleon III and Piedmontese Army under Victor Emmanuel II against the Austrian Army under Emperor Franz-Joseph. Over 200,000 soldiers fought in this important battle, the... battle of Solferino. For his services in the campaign he received the grand cross of the Legion of Honour, of which he was already (1855) a commander.

He commanded with great distinction the first division under General (afterwards marshal) Forey in the Mexican expedition in Events January-March January 10 - End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford. January 30 - The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. February 1 - Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic is published for the... 1862, succeeded him in supreme command in 1863, and became marshal and senator of France in the following year. He at first pursued the war with great vigour and success, entering Mexico in 1863 and driving President Benito Juárez Benito Juárez ( March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Indian who served two terms ( 1861- 1863 and 1867- 1872) as President of Mexico. Juárez is often regarded as Mexicos greatest and most beloved leader. He is the first... Benito Juárez to the frontier. The marshal's African experience as a soldier and as an administrator stood him in good stead in dealing with the guerrilleros of the Juárez party, but he was less successful in his relations with Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, (July 6, 1832 - June 19, 1867) was a member of Austrias Imperial Habsburg family. With the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican conservatives, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864. Many Mexicans and foreign governments refused... Maximilian, with whose court the French headquarters was in constant strife. Here, as later in his own country, Bazaine's policy seems to have been directed, at least in part, to his own establishment in the role of a mayor of the palace. His own army thought that he aspired to play the part of a King Charles XIV of Sweden, Charles III of Norway, or domestically Carl XIV Johan and Carl III Johan respectively, Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte (January 26, 1763 - March 8, 1844) was born at Pau, France, the son of Henri Bernadotte (1711-1780), procurator at Pau, and Jeanne St. Jean (1725-1809... Bernadotte. His marriage to a rich Mexican lady, whose family were supporters of Juárez, still further complicated his relations with the unfortunate emperor, and when at the close of the The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession... American Civil War the United States sent a powerful war-trained army to the Mexican frontier, the French forces were withdrawn. Bazaine skilfully conducted the retreat and embarkation at See: Veracruz (city) (Mexico) Veracruz (state) (Mexico) Vera Cruz, Indiana Vera Cruz, Bahia, Brazil Vera Cruz, São Paulo, Brazil This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want... Vera Cruz (1867). On his return to Paris he was but coldly received by his sovereign; public opinion was, however, in his favour, and he was held to have been made a scapegoat for the faults of others.

At the outbreak of the Battle of Gravelotte Main article: Battle of Gravelotte Battle of Sedan Main article: Battle of Sedan The French were soundly defeated in several battles owing to the military superiority of the Prussian forces and their commanders. At Sedan on September 2, the French emperor Napoleon III was taken prisoner with... Franco-German War Marshal Bazaine was placed in command of the III corps of the Army of the Rhine. He took no part in the earlier battles, but Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. He was the nephew of the Emperor Napoléon I of France. During his youth, he... Napoleon III soon handed over the chief command of the army to him. How far his inaction was the cause of the disaster of Spicheren is a matter of dispute. The best that can. be said of his conduct is that the evil traditions of warfare on a small scale and the mania for taking up “strong positions,” common to the French generals of 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). Events January - April January 6 - The inauguration of the Musikverein ( Vienna). January 10 - John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil January 15 - A political cartoon for the first time symbolizes the United States Democratic Party with a donkey (A... 1870, were in Bazaine's own case emphasized by his personal dislike for the "schoolmaster" Frossard, lately the Prince Imperial's tutor and now commander of the army corps posted at Spicheren. Frossard himself, the leader of the "strong positions" school, could only blame his own theories for the paralysis of the rest of the army, which left the corps at Spicheren to fight unsupported. Bazaine, indeed, when called upon for help, moved part of his corps forward, but only to "take up strong positions," not to strike a blow on the battlefield.

A few days later he took up the chief command, and his tenure of it is the central act in the tragedy of 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). Events January - April January 6 - The inauguration of the Musikverein ( Vienna). January 10 - John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil January 15 - A political cartoon for the first time symbolizes the United States Democratic Party with a donkey (A... 1870. He found the army in retreat, ill-equipped and numerically at a great disadvantage, and the generals and staffs discouraged and distrustful of one another. There was practically no chance of success. The question was one of extricating the army and the government from a disastrous adventure, and Bazaine's solution of it was to bring back his army to Metz.

It seems to be clearly established that the charges of In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to ones nation. A person who reneges on an oath of loyalty or a pledge of allegiance, and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor. Orans Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason... treason to which later events gave so strong a colour had, as yet, no foundation in fact. Nor, indeed, can his unwillingness to leave the Moselle region, while there was yet time to slip past the advancing enemy, be considered even as proof of special incompetence. The resolution to stay in the neighbourhood of Location within France Rhine watershed Metz is a city in the North-East of France, capital of the Lorraine région and of the département of Moselle (57). It is located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille. History In ancient times Metz, then known... Metz was based on the knowledge that if the slow-moving French army ventured far out it would infallibly be headed off and brought to battle in the open by superior numbers. In "strong positions" close to his stronghold, however, Bazaine hoped that he could inflict damaging repulses and heavy slaughter on the ardent Germans, and in the main the result justified the expectation. The scheme was creditable, and even heroic, but the execution throughout all ranks, from the marshal to the battalion commanders, fell far short of the idea. The minutely cautious methods of movement, which Algerian experience had evolved suitable enough for small African desert columns, which were liable to surprise rushes and ambushes, reduced the mobility of a large army, which had favourable marching conditions, to 5 miles a day as against the enemy's rate of 15. When, before he had finally decided to stay in Metz, Bazaine attempted halfheartedly to begin a retreat on Verdun is the name of several communes in France: Verdun, in the Meuse département, site of the Battle of Verdun during World War I. Verdun, in the Ariège département Also part of the name of: Château-Verdun, in the Ariège département Verdun-en-Lauragais... Verdun, the staff work and organization of the movement over the Moselle was so ineffective that when the German staff calculated that Bazaine was nearing Verdun, the French had in reality barely got their artillery and baggage trains through the town of Metz. Even on the battlefield the marshal forbade the general staff to appear, and conducted the fighting by means of his personal orderly officers.

After the cumbrous army had passed through Metz it encountered an isolated corps of the enemy, which was commanded by the brilliant leader Constantin von Alvensleben, and promptly attacked the French. At almost every moment of the day victory was in Bazaine's hands. Two corps of the Germans fought all day for bare existence. But Bazaine had no confidence in his generals or his troops, and contented himself with inflicting severe losses on the most aggressive portions of the German army. Two days later, while the French actually retreated on Metz--taking seven hours to cover 5 to 6 miles--the masses of the Germans gathered in front of him, intercepting his communication with the interior of France. This Bazaine expected, and feeling certain that the Germans would sooner or later attack him in his chosen position, he made no attempt to interfere with their concentration. The great battle was fought, and having inflicted severe punishment on his assailants, Bazaine fell back within the entrenched camp of Metz. But although he made no appeals for help, public opinion, alarmed and excited,' condemned the only remaining army of France, Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta President of France, 1873-1879 Marie Edmé Patrice Maurice MacMahon, duc de Magenta, Marshal of France (July 13, 1808 - October 16, 1893) was a Frenchman of Irish descent. He served as President of the Third French Republic from 1873 to 1879. To date he is... Marshal Mac-Mahon's "Army of Châlons," to rescue Bazaine at all costs. The adventure ended at For other uses of Sedan, see Sedan (disambiguation). Sedan is a city and commune in France, a sous-préfecture of the Ardennes département. Population: 21,117. History During the Franco-Prussian War, on September 2, 1870 the French emperor Napoleon III was taken prisoner with 100,000 of... Sedan, and with Sedan the Third Empire collapsed.

Up to this point Bazaine had served his country perhaps as well as circumstances allowed, and certainly with enough skill and a sufficient measure of success to justify his appointment. His experience, wide as it was, had not fitted him for the command of a large army in a delicate position. Since his Mexican expedition, moreover, he had himself fallen into a state of moral and physical lethargy, which, imperceptible on the field of battle, because his reputation for impassive bearing under fire was beyond question, was only too obvious in the staff offices, where the work of manoeuvring the army and framing plans and orders was chiefly done. But, in spite of these defects, it cannot be asserted that anyone of Bazaine's subordinates would have done better, with the possible exception of Ladmirault, and Ladmirault was one of the junior corps commanders.

Bazaine, therefore, in the main justified his reputation for ability. He was now to justify his reputation for intriguing and underhand diplomacy. If in Mexico he aspired to the role of mayor of the palace, it was far more so in Metz, where, as commander of the only organized army of France, he conceived himself to be the ruler of the country's destiny. Accordingly he engaged in a series of diplomatic intrigues, some of which to this day have never been properly cleared up. Negotiations passed between the outer world and the besieged commander, the purport of which remains still to some extent obscure, but it is beyond question that he proposed with the permission of the Germans to employ his army in "saving France from herself."

The scheme, however, collapsed, and the army of the Rhine became prisoners of war to the number of 140,000. At the moment of the surrender a week's further resistance would have enabled the levies of the National Defence government to crush the weak forces of the Germans on the Loire is a département in the east-central part of France occupying the Loire Rivers upper reaches. History Loire was created in 1793 when the original department of Rhône-et-Loire was split. Its capitals have been the following: Feurs from 1793-1795 Montbrison from 1795-1855... Loire and to relieve Paris. But the army of Prince Frederick Charles, set free by the surrender, hurried up in time to check and to defeat the great effort at This article is about Orléans, France; for other meanings see Orleans (disambiguation). Orleans cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Cross, built from 1278 to 1329; the Protestants pillaged it in the 1560s; the Bourbon kings restored it in the 17th century. Location within France Orléans is a... Orléans. The responsibility for this crushing blow was naturally enough, and justly enough, placed on Bazaine's shoulders, and although, when be returned from captivity, the marshal enjoyed a brief immunity, he was in 1873 brought to trial before a military court. He was found guilty of negotiating with and capitulating to the enemy before doing all that was prescribed by duty and honour, and sentenced to degradation and death, but very strongly recommended to mercy. His sentence was commuted to twenty years' seclusion, and the humiliating ceremonies attending degradation were dispensed with. He was incarcerated in the Ile Sainte-Marguérite and treated rather as an exile than as a convict; thence he escaped in 1874 to Italy. He finally took up his abode in Madrid, where he. was treated with marked respect by the government of Alfonso XII of Spain ( November 28, 1857 - November 25, 1885), was king of Spain, reigning from 1875 to 1885, after a coup détat restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic. He was son of Isabella II of Spain. His biological paternity is uncertain, though his... Alfonso XII. He published Episodes de la guerre de 1870 (Madrid, 1883). He also wrote L'Armée du Rhin (Paris, 1872).

See memoir by C Pelletan in La Grande Encyclopédie; for Bazaine's conduct see Bazaine et l'armée du Rhin (1873); J Valfrey, Le Maréchal et l'armée du Rhin (1873); Count A de la Guerronière, L'Homme de Metz (1871); Rossel, Les Derniers fours de Metz (1871).

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